Progress on kids' obesity

Obesity rates for children have declined in several major cities and California and Mississippi - the first reduction since rates began to climb rapidly 30 years ago.

The trend reversal is modest but extremely important in terms of health for individual kids and for long-term prospects of getting the nation's health care costs under control.

A September report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation first detailed the developments in New York, Philadelphia and the two states.

In Philadelphia, the results are particularly encouraging because the reductions were across all races and economic groups, whereas reductions in other areas tended to be among white kids from more affluent families.

During the 2006-2007 school year, 21.5 percent of public school students in Philadelphia were obese. In the 2009-2010 school year, the number was 20.5 percent - a reduction of 1 percentage point, 4.7 percent. It isn't clear if the difference is due to new students being lighter or older students losing weight, but either way the trend is positive.

Part of the progress is due to school programs that have eliminated sugary snacks and drinks. Another part owes to an aggressive effort by the city to locate more supermarkets in the city to provide broader access to fresh, rather than processed, foods. A study by Temple University found that the average Philadelphia child consumed 350 calories a day in cheap snacks from convenience stores. The Food Trust, a nonprofit, responded with a program under which 640 such stores in the city stock healthier food.

The common denominator is that the cities and states in question have multiple programs aimed at reducing obesity. There appears to be a cumulative impact on nutrition awareness and choices. Other cities and states should adopt those approaches to accelerate the trend.

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